Article 85 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 85 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
The article allows doubling the maximum penalty for repeat offending within 3 years of a final judgment or decision, and publishing the operative part of the judgment at the violator's expense once it becomes final.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ- تجوز مضاعفة الحد الأعلى للعقوبة في حالة العود لارتكاب أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، ويعد عائداً في تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام كل من عاد إلى ارتكاب المخالفة خلال ثلاث سنوات من تاريخ صدور حكم أو قرار نهائي واجب النفاذ في حقه.
ب- يجوز تضمين الحكم أو القرار - الصادر بتوقيع أي من العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام - النص على نشر منطوقة على نفقة المخالف في صحيفة (أو أكثر) تصدر في مقر إقامته، فإن تعذر ففي أقرب منطقة له، أو نشره في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون نشر الحكم أو القرار بعد اكتسابه القطعية.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 85 explained in plain English
This article contains two provisions that increase the effect of the penalty.
Paragraph (a) – Repeat offending:
- The maximum penalty may be doubled in the case of repeat offending of any of the violations set out in the Law.
- Who counts as a repeat offender: anyone who returns to commit the violation within 3 years of the date a final judgment or decision enforceable against him was issued.
Paragraph (b) – Publishing the judgment:
- The judgment or decision imposing the penalty may provide for publishing its operative part at the violator's expense.
- Place of publication: in one or more newspapers published where he resides, or if that is not possible in the nearest region to him, or by any other suitable means.
- The criterion for deciding: the type of violation, its gravity and its effect.
- Timing: publication takes place after the judgment or decision becomes final.
Note that both provisions are discretionary ("may"), so doubling the penalty or publication does not happen automatically. Doubling also concerns the maximum, meaning it raises the ceiling the penalty can reach. The three years run from the issue of the final judgment or decision, not from the date of the first violation.
This article comes after Article 84, which provides for applying the more severe penalty where several laws apply. Anyone with a previous conviction who faces a new accusation would be wise to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A final decision was issued fining a dealer for a violation relating to selling a movable antiquity in violation of the Law, and two years later he returned to commit a similar violation. He is a repeat offender because he returned within 3 years, so the maximum penalty may be doubled, and the judgment may provide for publishing its operative part at his expense once it becomes final.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 85 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
What is the penalty for repeating a violation of the Antiquities Law?
The maximum penalty may be doubled in the case of repeat offending.
When is a violator considered a repeat offender?
If he returns to commit the violation within 3 years of the date a final judgment or decision enforceable against him was issued.
Is the violator's name published in newspapers?
The judgment or decision may provide for publishing its operative part at the violator's expense, according to the type of violation, its gravity and its effect, after it becomes final.
More articles on Recording Antiquities Violations and Confiscation
- Article 78
The smuggling provisions of the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council states apply to smuggling antiquities, and the Customs Authority hands seized antiquities over to the Authority.
تطبق على تهريب الآثار الأحكام الخاصة بالتهريب، المنصوص عليها في نظام (قانون) الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية، على أن تقوم مصلحة الجمارك بتس
- Article 79
Without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties, movable antiquities involved in violations and the funds derived from them, and the tools, machines and means of transport used in specified violations, are confiscated by court judgment.
مع عدم الإخلال بحقوق الغير (حسن النية)؛ تصادر بحكم قضائي الآثار المنقولة التي خالف حائزها أحكام المواد (الثانية، والسادسة والثلاثين، والأربعين) من هذا النظام، و
- Article 80
Without prejudice to penalties, anyone who found antiquities or obtained them in violation must hand them over, anyone who damaged registered sites must pay compensation, and anyone who demolished or built without approval must remove it and restore the site at his expense.
مع عدم الإخلال بالعقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام: 1 - يُلزم كل من عثر على آثار، أو استولى على آثار مملوكة للدولة بصورة غير مشروعة، أو حصل على آثار بطريقة مخ
- Article 81
Without prejudice to penalties, where survey, excavation, export, trading or museum licenses are violated, the committee provided for in Article 90 may stop the activity, or suspend or permanently cancel the license.
مع عدم الإخلال بالعقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، في حالة مخالفة الأحكام والشروط المتعلقة بتراخيص المسح، أو التنقيب، أو التصدير، أو الاتجار، أو المتاحف؛ فلل
- Article 82
Anyone who takes part, by agreement, incitement or assistance, in committing any violation under the Law is punished with the same penalty set for it.
يعاقب كل من اشترك بطريق الاتفاق، أو التحريض، أو المساعدة في ارتكاب أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بالعقوبة نفسها المقررة لها.
- Article 83
Attempting any violation of the Law is punished by no more than half of the maximum penalty prescribed for it.
يعاقب على الشروع في أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بما لا يتجاوز نصف الحد الأعلى للعقوبة المقررة لها.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.